A desolate wasteland stretched endlessly under a raging sky.
Fierce winds whipped sand and gravel through the air, lashing against exposed rock like countless invisible whips.
This was one of Earth's harshest uninhabited regions and the training ground Piccolo had chosen.
Two small figures clashed at high speed in midair.
"Dodon Ray!"
Trillin's young voice carried a slyness far beyond his age.
Instead of taking a standard Turtle School stance, he twisted his small frame in an almost unnatural angle midair. A sharp yellow beam shot from his fingertip, aimed directly at his opponent's knee.
"Masenko!"
Across from him, Gohan looked timid at first glance. But once battle instinct kicked in, his reaction speed was terrifying.
He raised both hands above his head and brought them down with force, releasing a much larger energy blast to meet the attack head-on.
Boom!
The two energies collided midair, exploding into a cloud of smoke that swallowed both of them whole.
High above, nearly ten thousand meters in the sky, Krillin floated with his arms crossed, watching with interest.
He had completely suppressed his aura, blending into the air like drifting dust. Even Piccolo hadn't noticed his presence.
A faint smile curved on his lips.
"Trillin really takes after his mom. Crafty little guy. Always aiming low. Where did he even learn that?"
Before the smoke cleared, Trillin had already slipped out like a fish through water.
Instead of continuing the energy clash, he used the explosion as cover and darted behind Gohan in an instant.
"Heh, crybaby, you lose!"
He grabbed a handful of sand from who-knows-where and aimed straight for Gohan's eyes.
"Hah!"
Gohan sensed the danger behind him.
His expression sharpened instantly.
Without turning around, he released a burst of energy that expanded outward like a circular shockwave.
Bang!
Trillin was blasted backward, flipping twice in midair before barely stabilizing himself.
"Ow! That hurts! Why are you so strong?!"
Trillin rubbed his backside, baring his teeth.
"You cry when you see bugs, but when you fight, you're like a wild animal!"
"D-Don't call me that!"
Gohan's face flushed red as he took on Piccolo's combat stance.
"Uncle Piccolo said being merciful to enemies is being cruel to yourself!"
Krillin activated his data vision.
Target: Trillin
Race: Human with trace Saitama factors
Power Level: 520
Evaluation: Exceptionally high combat intelligence. Excels at exploiting rules. Extremely durable.
Target: Son Gohan
Race: Human Saiyan hybrid
Power Level: 515 normal state. Burst state unknown
Evaluation: Bottomless potential. Currently reactive. Lacks initiative in offense.
"Over five hundred in base form…"
Krillin rubbed his bald head thoughtfully.
"Not bad. They've improved a lot."
"They're a bit below the thousand-plus spike from the original timeline, but that was after Raditz triggered their growth. You can't compare that to their normal state."
"There's still half a year before Vegeta and Nappa arrive. Their foundation is solid."
Just as the two kids prepared to start another round, a cold voice cut in.
"That's enough. Ten-minute break."
Piccolo stepped out from behind a rock, arms crossed, his white cape snapping in the wind.
His sharp gaze swept over both children.
"Trillin, too many tricks. Against overwhelming strength, dirty tactics like throwing sand will only get you killed faster."
"And Gohan, your reaction was too slow. If that had been a blade instead of sand, your head would be gone."
Gohan shrank slightly.
"Sorry, Uncle Piccolo…"
"Tch. A win is a win, no matter how you get it."
Trillin muttered, though he quickly shut up under Piccolo's glare.
"Exactly. A win is a win."
A teasing voice suddenly sounded behind Piccolo.
Every muscle in Piccolo's body tensed instantly.
He spun around, veins bulging on his forehead.
Someone had approached within three meters of him without him noticing.
"Who is it?!"
Krillin waved casually.
"Hey, Piccolo. Taking care of kids must be exhausting. They still trouble you at night?"
"Dad!"
"Uncle Krillin!"
The two kids shouted in excitement.
Trillin immediately leaped forward and clung to Krillin's leg like a koala.
"Dad, you're finally back! That green uncle abuses kids! No meat, just sour wild fruit every day!"
Piccolo's eye twitched.
"Shut up! That's a substitute for Senzu Beans. It restores stamina!"
He stared at Krillin warily.
Half a year ago, Krillin's strength had already been overwhelming. Now, he couldn't sense anything at all.
Krillin stood there like an ordinary person.
But Piccolo's instincts screamed otherwise.
This wasn't a man.
This was a volcano waiting to erupt.
"Why are you here?" Piccolo asked coldly.
"The Saiyans arrive in half a year. Are you back early to write your will?"
"On the contrary, I'm here to give you all a shortcut."
Krillin ruffled Trillin's hair, his tone turning serious.
"Training here is too slow. Even after another month, you might only gain a few hundred power level."
"Against monsters who can wipe you out instantly, that's meaningless."
Piccolo remained silent for a moment.
"Then what do you suggest?"
"Come with me."
Krillin pointed behind him with his thumb.
"West City. Capsule Corporation. Bulma built something useful."
"And I've got a new technique. Interested?"
"No."
Piccolo turned his head away stubbornly.
"Is that so?"
Krillin smiled.
A faint crimson glow appeared on his skin.
Kaio-ken, controlled at base level.
For just a split second.
Piccolo's heart felt like it was crushed by an invisible hand.
It wasn't about size.
It was about density.
If Piccolo's energy was a raging river, then Krillin's was an endless ocean.
Cold sweat slid down Piccolo's face.
"What… was that?"
"Kaio-ken. It multiplies your power instantly. Double, triple, even more."
Krillin grinned like a salesman.
"As long as your body can handle it, the limit is theoretically endless. So, interested in a Namekian version?"
Piccolo stayed silent for three seconds.
"…Fine. I'll take a look."
He flicked his cape.
"But if it's a waste of time, I'll kill you."
"Sure, whatever makes you happy."
Krillin grabbed Trillin and Gohan.
"Hold tight. We're picking up a few more people."
In an instant, they vanished.
The scenery shifted to the Lookout, high above the clouds.
Tien, Chiaotzu, and Yamcha were sparring under heavy weights, drenched in sweat.
"Can this kind of training really prepare us for the Saiyans?"
Yamcha collapsed onto the ground, gasping.
"Even Goku was defeated…"
"Don't say that!"
Tien wiped his sweat, his third eye filled with determination.
"Even if we die, we die fighting!"
"Good spirit. I like that."
Krillin's voice startled them.
"Krillin?!"
They exclaimed.
Kami stepped forward, leaning on his staff. His gaze briefly paused on Piccolo before returning to calm.
"You've returned from King Kai's training?" Kami asked.
"More or less."
Krillin got straight to the point.
"Time is short. The Lookout's training is decent, but not enough for enemies like the Saiyans."
"I have something harsher. Faster. More painful."
"Are you in?"
Tien studied him carefully.
Then nodded.
"I'm in."
"Me too," Chiaotzu said immediately.
Yamcha hesitated, then clenched his fists.
"If I don't go, I won't even qualify as cannon fodder."
He stood up.
"I'm coming too."
"Good."
Krillin snapped his fingers.
"Everyone's here."
He glanced at the group.
Krillin, Piccolo, Tien, Yamcha, Chiaotzu, Trillin, Gohan.
System evaluation appeared.
Win rate against Nappa and Vegeta: 0.1 percent without host intervention.
Krillin smiled.
"In six months, I'll make that one hundred percent."
He extended his hand.
"Hold on tight. Try not to throw up."
In a flash, they all vanished.
Only Kami and Mr. Popo remained.
Kami looked into the distance and sighed softly.
"The fate of Earth now rests in their hands."